BEIJING, April 2 -- China's National Meteorological Center renewed a blue alert on Tuesday for rainstorms as heavy downpours are expected to lash parts of the country.

From Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning, heavy rainfall is forecast to hit parts of Hubei, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Hunan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang, said the center.

The center said parts of the affected regions will experience heavy rainfall with a maximum hourly precipitation of over 70 millimeters, accompanied by thunderstorms and gales.

Schools and kindergartens have been asked to ensure the safety of students and children, and drivers have been advised to exercise caution due to potential road waterlogging and traffic congestion.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow, and blue.